Pressing machine



Mayll, 1937. A. MATTHEWS 2,080,084

PRE'ssING MACHINE Filed Aug. 6, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l Z7 No, 2% 29d INVENTOR ALBERT MATTHEWS May 11, 1937.

A. MATTHEWS 2,080,084

PRESSING MAHINE Filed Aug. 6, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. '3

INVENTOR ALBERT MATTHEWS zwzag:@gMgyyjd Patented May 11, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PRESSING MACHINE Application August 6, 1934, Serial No. 738,597

Claims.

This invention relates to a pressing machine of the type used in laundry and garment Work.

An object of the invention is to provide in a press having a pair of cooperating elements rela- 5 tivelyfmovable into and out of pressing relation,

means for closing the press and a positive mechanical latch for holding the press closed before final pressure is applied.

Another object of the invention is to provide a press having coacting pressing members, one of which has a cover distensible by ination, together with means for closing the press, means for locking the pressing members in safe closed position, and novel means for thereafter automatically inflating the distensible cover.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel pressing element of the type having a cover distensible by ination and comprising means for preventing deterioration of the side portions of said cover when in constant use.

Other objects of the invention are the provision of suitable mechanism and control means for carrying out the above described objects, as will appear from the accompanying specification taken with the drawings and the essential features of which will be summarized in the claims.

In the drawings, Fig. l is a side .elevation partly in section of a press embodying my invention with the press parts in open position and with the control mechanism shown in diagrammatic form; Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l showing the press closed for a pressing operation; Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the buck and chest in pressing position; while Fig. 4 is a plan view on a slightly diminished scale of the buck illustrated herewith.

I have illustrated my invention as applied to a press of the scissors type having a frame I0 upon an upstanding bracket of which is pivotally supported a head lever II carrying a chest I2 at its forward .end and having a spring I3 connected between the rearward end and the frame so that the chest is normally biased to press open position. A buck I4 is mounted on the frame I0 in position to coact with the chest.

The means for closing the press against the bias of spring I3 comprises an operating lever I5 pivotally mounted in the frame I0 at I6 and having motion transmitting mechanism connecting it with the head lever II so that movement of operating lever I5 in a clockwise direction about its pivot will move the head I2 into operative position adjacent or contacting buck I4. The motion transmitting mechanism illustrated herewith comprises a link I7 pivotally connected with the operating lever at one end and at its other end pivotally connected with an oscillating lever I8 which is pivotally supported at I9 on the frame. The other end of lever I8 is pivotally connected with a member 20 so that lever I8 and member 20 comprise a toggle. This toggle in turn is connected at 2| with the knuckle of another toggle mechanism comprising members 22 and 23 pivotally connected to the head lever and tothe frame respectively. It will be apparent therefore l0 that downward movement of the operating lever will move the double toggle mechanism toward straightened position, as shown in Fig. 2, so as to close the press. Preferably, this toggle mechanism will not move quite to the locked position 15 so that upon the release of the operating lever I5 spring I3 is operative to open the press.

Various means might be utilized for closing the press. For instance, it might be closed by operator operated means but preferably is provided With power means. That illustrated herewith comprises a cylinder and piston motor 24 which includes a cylinder 25 pivotally supported from a bracket on the frame and equipped with a suitable piston 28, whose piston rod 21 is pivotally connected at 28 to the forward end of the operating lever.

The means for controlling the flow and exhaust of pressure iiuid to motor 24 is illustrated as comprising a pair of valve casings 29 and 30 in 30 series for admitting pressure fluid from a source of supply 3| through conduit 32, valve casing 29, conduit 33, valve casing 30 and conduit 34 to the motor. Each of the valve casings incloses a combined inlet and exhaust valve and since the 35 constructions are similar one only will be described. For instance, in valve casing 29 the inlet valve 29a and the exhaust valve 29h are mounted on a common stem 29e which is spring pressed to the position shown in the drawings so as to 40 maintain the inlet valve normally closed and the exhaust valve normally open. The valve is manipulated by means of a manual 29d. Exhaust from the valve casing is provided through an open port 29e. 45

For holding the press closed before final pressure is applied tothe pressing members, a positive mechanical latch is provided acting on some vportion of the motion transmitting mechanism sure after the press is closed. This type of press has certain advantages, among them being the fact that the inated bed provides a perfect accommodation for inequalities in the articles worked upon and, furthermore, the pressure may be applied equally over the entire pressing surface thus giving a greatly increased and uniform pressing or ironing effect.

The buck illustrated herewith comprises a base member 42 which is secured to the frame and comprises a work supporting portion 43 and side portions 44. Over this base member in loose fitting relation extends a cover 45 which continues down along the side portions 44 and is folded beneath the base member at 46 where the free edges of the cover are secured to the base member in fluid-tight relation. A novel securing means is illustrated comprising an L- shaped flange 4l, one arm of which is secured by bolts 48 to the base member in a manner to clamp the cover to the base. The upwardly extending arm 49 of the flange extends upwardly outside the cover in a manner to support it along the side portions of the base member and extends substantially to the plane of the working portion of the base member. In other words, with reference to Figs. 2 and 3the arm 49 of the flange supports the buck cover almost to the point of contacting with the chest I2 when the pressing members are in their pressing position. The cover is substantially impervious to the fluid used and is both flexible and slightly distensible, one suitable form comprising alternate layers of rubber and fabric. Due to the alternate inflation and deflation of this cover, flexing takes place where the cover changes direction between the work supporting portion and the side portions of the buck and it is the purposev of the flange member 41 to support the cover at this point and prevent undue flexing. The supply of pressure fluid for inflating the buck is by way of conduit 53, valve casing 5| and conduit 52. In valve casing 5| are provided inlet valve 5Ia and outlet valve 5Ib mounted on a common stem 5|c which is spring pressed to the position shown in Fig. l so as to maintain the inlet valve normally closed and the outlet valve normally open. The exhaust from the valve casing is by way of open port 5Ie. The valves in casing 5I are operated automatically in buck inflating direction upon engagement of latch 35. The arrangement shown comprises a lug 53 upon the operating lever I5 which engages the short arm 54 of valve operating lever 55 which is pivotally supported at 56 on a bracket connected with the frame. The longer arm 5'! of this lever is held by a stop member 58 in position contacting stem 5Ic.` As the latch 35 engages pin 38, lug 53 rotates lever 55 in a clockwise direction about its pivot so as to close valve 5Ib and open valve 5Ia to inflate the buck. The arrangement of lever 55 as shown provides a motion increasing mechanism between operating lever I5 and valve stem ,5Ic so thata slight movement of lug 53 causes a greater movement of arm 51 of lever 55 so as to cause satisfactory valve operation with slight movement of the operating lever.

With the parts in the position of Fig. 1, the operation of the pressing machine is as follows: Having arranged the lay of the work upon the pressing surface of buck I4, the operator depresses the manuals 29d and 30d. It will be obvious that both manuals must be depressed, as the release of either of them will open one of the outlet valves and prevent the building up of operating pressure in motor 24. It is necessary to maintain bothl manuals in operated position until the press is closed and latched as otherwise the flow of pressure fluid to motor 24 will be interrupted and spring I3 will return the chest to open position. When the press parts reach closed position, pin 38 engages notch 3l in the latch and thereafter the operator may release the two-hand control manuals. Upon engagement of latch 35, lug 53 on the operating lever actuates the valve operating lever 55 in a Aclockwise direction which moves the valves in casing 5| to the position of Fig. 2 which inflates the buck so as to distend cover 45 into pressing engagement with the chest. Upon completion of the pressing operation treadle is depressed which disengages the latch and permits spring i3 to open the press which will move the operating lever in a counterclockwise direction. Upon a very slight movement of this operating lever I5, lever 55 moves sufficiently in a counterclockwise direction to permit the spring in valve casing 5| to return the valves to the position of Fig. l, thus deating the buck cover and preventing injury thereto.

I have thus provided a press which is safer than other presses known to me because it is more positive in its action. Where toggle mechanisms are relied on to lock a press in closed position, the working parts become worn so that there is no fixed relation between the position of the press parts and the application of final pressure thereto. In my improved press the latch must be positively engaged before final pressure is applied and with the parts arranged as shown there is little chance for ordinary wear to disturb the original relationship between latch engaging and final pressure producing parts. Furthermore, the two-hand control for closing the press insures that both hands of the operator are beyond risk of injury until the press is latched closed.

For simplicity of language the term closed and similar expressions are used in the specification and claims to indicate a position in which the press members are opposed and either in contact or suiiiciently close to cause ironing contact between opposed pressing surfaces when the inflatable member is distended.

What I claim is:

1. In a press of the class described, a frame, a head lever pivoted thereon, a head carried by said lever, a buck mounted on said frame and having a fluid distensible pressing face, power means,

motion transmitting means between said power I means and head lever for closing the press, means having an operative connection with said motion transmitting means for latching said press closed, fluid means for distending the distensible face of said buck, a control valve therefor, and motion :increasing means having an operative connection between its point of greater motion and said valve and having another connection between its point of lesser motion and the motion transmitting means, the parts being so arranged that stantially to the plane of said work-supporting movement of the motion transmitting means to cause engagement of the latching means serves `to open said valve.

2. In a press of the class described, a frame, a head lever pivoted thereon, a head carried by said lever, a buck mounted on said frame and having a uid distensible pressing face, an operating lever, operative mechanism between said operating lever and said head lever, means for moving said operating lever in press-closing direction, coacting latch means on said frame and said operating lever for holding said press closed, fluid means for distending the distensible face of said buck, a control valve therefor, a valve actuating lever of the rst order having a long and a short arm, said long arm having an operative connection for opening said valve, and said operating lever having a portion adapted to move the short arm of said valve actuating lever in valve-opening direction upon engagement of said latch means.

3. A pressing element comprising a base member having a work-supporting portion and depending side portions, a flexible distensible iiuidtight cover extending across said base member and downwardly along the side portions thereof, means securing said cover at its free edges to said base member in fluid-tight relation, and a supporting member secured to said base member and extending upwardly outside said cover along the side portions of said base member and subportion.

4. A pressing element comprising a base member having a Work-supporting portion and depending side portions, a exible distensible fluidtight cover extending across said base member and downwardly along the side portions thereof and then beneath said base member, a rigid flanged member having a portion clampingly' securing the free edges of said cover to the under side of said base member, and said flangedk member having another portion extending upwardly outside said cover along the side portions of said base member and substantially to the plane of said work-supporting portion.

5. A pressing element comprising a base member having a central portion and side portions extending at an angle thereto, a flexible distensible fluid-tight cover extending across said central portion and along said side portions and then turned inwardly at its free edges, means securing the free edges of said cover to said base member in a uid-tight manner, and a plate member extending outside said cover along said side portions substantially to the plane of said central portion to support those unsecured portions of said cover outside the pressing zone when the central portion of said cover engages a coacting surface during a pressing operation.

ALBERT MATTHEWS. 

